posted by ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
mmoa_writes at 01:19pm on 08/07/2004
mmoa_writes at 01:19pm on 08/07/2004One of the good (?) things about studying another culture, is that you can make rather interesting comparisons.
One of the problems behind people's attitude to Nigeria and Nigerians is the whole 'get rich quick' attitude as promoted by President *insert name here because I, as a member of the diaspora, was too dumb ass to research properly*: forget all the mistakes of the past, we have plenty of oil so we can afford to make tons of mistakes in the future! It doesn't matter! Just get the money!
Studying Spanish culture and it is fascinating that another country, who had a Civil War comparitively recently, that it is still on people's minds: they still draw lessons from it - the dictatorship (lack of democracy and basic freedom) the choices you had to made (let us never be put into a position like that again where men fought against their fathers, uncles... women against their mothers, aunts etc). It's amazing. The number of films that I have seen so far that deal with the Civil War... Jesus. It is always something that is THERE.
Nigerian film, for all that it's becoming so big now, deals with none of that. And don't go on about how it's a different culture because there are many things we have in common which span across the tribes, with Spain.
Such as...
An incredibly poetic language with subtleties that are simply mind-boggling (four different ways of saying one word; an endless number of sayings to pepper your speech with; a centreless spirituality that we carry with us, not just in the place of worship etc.) a cultural respect for the past... The list goes on.
Why don't we have any films made about our Civil War? So many of our leading stars and directors are Igbo, so you can't say that it hardly involved anyone who has the connections to make such a film. So what is it? You think people don't care? People want a happy story?
WAKE UP!
Africans have never been, nor ever will be, in tune with happy stories. Why? Because to the average African mind, frippery little fairy tales are silly: no really - imagine me, as a child of Igbo immigrants, being found reading story-tales about blonde girls who work incredibly hard and end up marrying Prince Charming. My parents (mama in particular) just looked at me. That look spoke of things that can't even be brought to be said, but that was enough of a lesson for me at that age. They're nice as stories but considering that the Civil War is actually a history, not a story, the respect for such a film would be high, so that excuse is well out.
Young Nigerians such as myself want to KNOW, maybe not actually be a true and traditional Igbo (do you know they fatten up virgins before your marriage? Ew! I have a hard enought time just eating food as it is - long story...), but at least about the way life has been for us: the same junk about forbidden love and cults just doesn't cut it - ask your more 'Nigerian' viewers, even they have their complaints, but there's nothing else to watch.
And we do care! For the foreigner, travel along the main road from any town to Lagos and at various stops, you will see shelters for a good 20+ men in wheelchairs or on the fucking FLOOR who are mutilated and disabled BECAUSE OF THAT WAR! Don't tell me that no one cares! If they don't, well bloody well CORRECT THEM! Grab them by their balls or summat and MAKE THEM CARE!
This attitude is what's killing us. For me, it just makes our whole culture feel like such a fake. All that high talk about respect for elders and shit and for what? Nothing.
Makes me sick, to be honest.
...
lol. And who said Westerners can't teach us anything?
EDIT: Why do I always end up swearing?
One of the problems behind people's attitude to Nigeria and Nigerians is the whole 'get rich quick' attitude as promoted by President *insert name here because I, as a member of the diaspora, was too dumb ass to research properly*: forget all the mistakes of the past, we have plenty of oil so we can afford to make tons of mistakes in the future! It doesn't matter! Just get the money!
Studying Spanish culture and it is fascinating that another country, who had a Civil War comparitively recently, that it is still on people's minds: they still draw lessons from it - the dictatorship (lack of democracy and basic freedom) the choices you had to made (let us never be put into a position like that again where men fought against their fathers, uncles... women against their mothers, aunts etc). It's amazing. The number of films that I have seen so far that deal with the Civil War... Jesus. It is always something that is THERE.
Nigerian film, for all that it's becoming so big now, deals with none of that. And don't go on about how it's a different culture because there are many things we have in common which span across the tribes, with Spain.
Such as...
An incredibly poetic language with subtleties that are simply mind-boggling (four different ways of saying one word; an endless number of sayings to pepper your speech with; a centreless spirituality that we carry with us, not just in the place of worship etc.) a cultural respect for the past... The list goes on.
Why don't we have any films made about our Civil War? So many of our leading stars and directors are Igbo, so you can't say that it hardly involved anyone who has the connections to make such a film. So what is it? You think people don't care? People want a happy story?
WAKE UP!
Africans have never been, nor ever will be, in tune with happy stories. Why? Because to the average African mind, frippery little fairy tales are silly: no really - imagine me, as a child of Igbo immigrants, being found reading story-tales about blonde girls who work incredibly hard and end up marrying Prince Charming. My parents (mama in particular) just looked at me. That look spoke of things that can't even be brought to be said, but that was enough of a lesson for me at that age. They're nice as stories but considering that the Civil War is actually a history, not a story, the respect for such a film would be high, so that excuse is well out.
Young Nigerians such as myself want to KNOW, maybe not actually be a true and traditional Igbo (do you know they fatten up virgins before your marriage? Ew! I have a hard enought time just eating food as it is - long story...), but at least about the way life has been for us: the same junk about forbidden love and cults just doesn't cut it - ask your more 'Nigerian' viewers, even they have their complaints, but there's nothing else to watch.
And we do care! For the foreigner, travel along the main road from any town to Lagos and at various stops, you will see shelters for a good 20+ men in wheelchairs or on the fucking FLOOR who are mutilated and disabled BECAUSE OF THAT WAR! Don't tell me that no one cares! If they don't, well bloody well CORRECT THEM! Grab them by their balls or summat and MAKE THEM CARE!
This attitude is what's killing us. For me, it just makes our whole culture feel like such a fake. All that high talk about respect for elders and shit and for what? Nothing.
Makes me sick, to be honest.
...
lol. And who said Westerners can't teach us anything?
EDIT: Why do I always end up swearing?
aggravated
There are 6 comments on this entry.